GANGA. The famous and holy river of India.

1) Origin and general information. Ganges had its origin during the 
incarnation of Visnu as Vamana. When Vamana measured the three worlds 
in three steps the nails on his left feet were raised high. They 
caused a pore on the upper side of the universe. Ganga starting from 
the finger of Visnu's feet fell in heaven (Bhagavata).

The famous Visnupadi, the flowing water (tirtha) of which washes away 
the sins of the people in the universe is the very same Ganges under 
discussion. For many yugas (eras) this river confined itself to the 
heights of the sky, otherwise called Visnupada. This particular spot 
is known as Dhruvamandala as it is here that Dhruva, son of King 
Uttanapada, does, his penance. The seven sages who constantly go round 
and round the Dhruvamandala take their bath in this holy river. The 
course of the river is thus: starting from Visnupada it falls on 
devayana glittering with crores of vimanas and therefrom it descends 
on Candramandala which it submerges. It follows its course again from 
there dividing itself into four tributaries called Sita, Caksus, 
Alakananda and Bhadra and then falls in Brahmaloka wherefrom it flows 
in all directions. Of the four tributaries Sita falls on the head of 
Mount Meru, flows down to Gandhamadana, then circling through 
Bhadrasva varsa falls into the eastern sea. Caks us falls on the peaks 
of mount Malyavan, flows through Ketumala and falls into the western 
sea. Alakananda falls on mount Hemakuta, flows through Bharata Varsa 
and falls into the southern sea. And Bhadra falls on the head of mount 
Srngavan, flows through Uttarakuru and falls into the northern sea. 
Alakananda flows through Bharata Varsa and is regarded as the most 
sacred of the four tributaries. Ganga which flowed through heaven fell 
on the earth after thousands of years of its origin. (Bhagavata, 
Pancama, Skandha, Chapter 17)

2) Why Ganga became Siva's consort. Mahavisnu was once engaged at 
Vaikuntha in a pleasant talk with his wives, Laksmi, Sarasvati and 
Ganges when Ganga cast lustful eyes on Visnu, who, behind the backs of 
the other two wives returned the lustful glances. Sarasvati could not 
put up with that situation for a long time. Therefore, she got up from 
her seat and beat Ganges. Laksmi tried to restrain Sarasvati lest the 
quarrel should become fiercer. Angered at this intervention Sarasvati 
cursed that Laksmi be born on earth. Ganges got angry that innocent 
Laksmi was thus cursed, and she in her turn cursed that Sarasvati be 
born as a river on earth. Sarasvati did not take the curse lying down, 
but cursed that Ganges also be born as a river on earth and take upon 
herself the sins of the whole world. When all the three wives of Visnu 
got themselves thus into trouble he told them as follows: "Everything 
has happened as it should have happened. Laksmi may go to the earth 
and be born in the home of Dharmadhvaja and grow up as his daughter, 
but not from the womb of his women. There you will purify the three 
worlds after which you will be born as the plant called tulasi, and be 
married by an asura called Sankhacuda, who will be born as a part of 
me. And, after that you will be turned into a sacred river called 
Padmavati, and leaving the river on earth your divine form will 
return to Vaikuntha." And to Ganges Visnu said as follows: "You will 
go to earth as a holy river to wash off the sins of people there. A 
king called Ballerina will be leading you to earth, and you will, 
therefore, be known as Bhagirathi also. And, you remain there on earth 
as the wife of the ocean of King Santanu. Your divine form. will 
return to mount Kailasa as the consort of Siva." As for Sarasvati, 
Visnu asked her to be born as a river on earth, her divine form 
ultimately returning to Satyaloka and then becoming the consort of 
Brahma.

And, thus it was that Laksmi became the consort of Mahavisnu, Ganges 
of Siva and Sarasvati of Brahma. (Devi Bhagavata, Navama Skandha)

3) Ganga born on earth due to the curse of Brahma. Mahabhisak, an 
emperor of the Iksvaku dynasty, went to Satyaloka after he had 
attained heaven, to worship Brahma. Ganges too happened to be there. 
In the devotional atmosphere at Satyaloka a casual breeze removed 
Ganges's clothes slightly from position, and Mahabhisak then cast a 
lustful glance at her which she also returned. Brahma, who was 
observing this exchange of love got angry and cursed that Mahabhisak 
be born as a King on earth and Ganges as his wife. Ganges prayed for 
redemption from the curse, and Brahma told her that she would regain 
her old status after she had delivered the Astavasus. As the 
consequence of Brahma's cure Mahabhisak was born as king Santanu in 
the solar dynasty on earth and he married Ganges. (Adi Parva, Chapters 
96 and 97).

4) Bhagiratha brought-down Ganga on earth. King Sagara of the solar 
dynasty had two wives called Sumati (Vaidarbhi) and Kesini (Saibya). A 
son called Asamanjasa was born to Kesini, and 60,000 princes were born 
to Sumati. Sagara drove out of the country Asamanjasa, who turned out 
to be an enemy of the people. The 60,000 sons of Sagara also proved to 
be a menace to the world, and the Devas approached Brahma for 
protection from the menace. He assured the Devas that a sage called 
Kapila will destroy the 60,000 evil fellows.

During the above period of time Sagara performed an Asvamedha yajna, 
and his sons went round the earth with the sacrificial horse. But, 
when they reached the sea-shore the horse disappeared. When the sons 
complained about it to their father, Sagara, he asked them to look out 
for the horse in every part of the world and bring it back. Not 
finding it anywhere on earth they dug a hole and entered Patala, where 
they saw sage Kapila absorbed in meditation and the missing horse tied 
to a pole near the sage. (It was Indra who had carried away the horse 
and tied it there). The sons of Sagara, believing that it was Kapila 
who had stolen the horse were about to attack the sage when he opened 
his eyes, and they were reduced to ashes in the fire of Kapila's eyes.

His sons having not returned even after a long time Sagara asked his 
grandson Amsuman to seek them out, and after an extensive search he 
saw Kapila at Patala. Amsuman pleased Kapila with laudatory phrases 
and the latter returned to him the sacrificial horse. Kapila also 
pronounced the blessing that the grandson of Amsuman would perform the 
purificatory rites of Sagara's sons by bringing down Ganga to earth 
from heaven. Amsuman returned to the palace with the horse and the 
Asvamedha was duly concluded.

From Amsuman was born Dilipa and from him Bhagiratha. On becoming 
King, Bhagiratha handed over the reins of government to his ministers 
and began efforts to bring down Ganges to earth. He did tapas for 
thousand years on the slopes of the Himalayas when Ganges asked him to 
please Siva first as he alone could face her (Ganges) fall on the 
earth. Accordingly he pleased Siva by his penance and Siva agreed to 
receive Ganges on his head. With a terrific noise Ganga came down on 
Siva's head. The haughty Ganges wanted to carry down Siva also to 
Patala. Realising this ambition of her Siva blocked her passage with 
the result that she wandered about in Siva's matted hair for many 
years without finding an outlet. Bhagiratha again did tapas and 
pleased Siva who shook his matted head and made fall some water 
therefrom on earth. The water fell into Bindusaras, and flowed in 
seven tributaries, the first three, Hladini, Pavani and Nalini towards 
the east, the next three, Sucaksu, Sita and Sindhu toward s the west 
and the seventh tributary followed Bhagiratha. In this manner they 
progressed a great distance till they reached the asrama of the sage 
Jahnu, and the haughty Ganges flooded the asrama. The sage got enraged 
at this and drank up Ganges. But Bhagiratha pleased the sage who then 
let out Ganges through his ears. Thenceforth Ganges came to be called 
Jahnavi also. Ganges again followed Bhagiratha to Patala and made the 
sons of Sagara attain salvation by purifying them with her waters. 
(Valmiki Ramayana, Bala Kanda, Cantos 43 and 44; Brahmanda Purana, 
Chapter 97; Devi Purana, Dvitiya Skandha; Drona Parva, Chapter 60; 
Anusasana Parva, Chapter 4 and Vana Parva, Chapter 109)

5) Ganges flowed into the sea. After the purificatory rites of the 
sons of Sagara were over, Bhagiratha conducted Ganges to the sea and 
with its waters the sea became full. (Vana Parva, Chapter 109, Verses 
18-21)

6) Ganges sat on the thighs of Pratipa. Ganges once fell in love with 
Pratipa, father of Santanu, and set on his right thigh when he 
(Pratipa) was doing penance on the banks of the Ganges for a son. 
Pratipa did not agree to Ganges's proposal that he should marry her 
and told her thus: "The right thigh is for the children and 
daughters-in-law to sit on and the left thigh for the wife; therefore, 
you be my son's wife."

Then Pratipa called his son Santanu and told him:

"Sometime back a divine woman came to me and I promised to wed her to 
you. Therefore, if any divine woman approaches you for a son you must 
accept her, and whatever she may do you must not object to that...". 
Not long after this Pratipa crowned Santanu King and left for the 
forest. (Adi Parva, Chapter 97)

7) Astavasus and Ganga. While the wife of Dyau, one of the Astavasus 
(eight Vasus) was roaming about in the forest she saw Nandini (the 
divine cow) grazing with her calf near the asrama of Vasistha, and she 
desired to have the cow to be presented to her intimate friend 
Jitavati, the daughter of King Usinara. She informed her husband, Dyau 
about this desire of hers, and Dyau told his relations about it. Next 
day the Astavasus, in the absence of Vasistha at the asrama, stole off 
Nandini and her calf. When Vasistha returned to the asrama the cow and 
calf were missing, and he divined the reason for it with his divine 
eyes. He cursed Astavasus to be born as men on earth, and when they 
prayed for redemption from the curse Vasistha told them that they 
would be born as men within one year from that day, die at once and 
return to heaven. At the same time the sage said that Dyau alone, who 
took the leading part in stealing the cow, would live on earth for a 
longer period before he returned to heaven. (The reputed Bhisma was 
this Dyau.) The Astavasus set out for the earth to be born as men and 
on their way they met Ganges and told her about their curse etc. 
Ganges also told them about her curse, and permitted them to be born 
in her womb. (Adi Parva, Chapter 99)

8) Ganges became the wife of Santanu and the Astavasus were born. Once 
while hunting on the banks of the Ganges Santanu saw a beautiful 
maiden and they fell in love with each other. She agreed to become his 
wife on the condition that he would not oppose whatever she said. 
Santanu agreed to it and married her. Soon after a child was born to 
them and in the very presence of Santanu, she threw the child into the 
Ganges. As per previous condition Santanu kept mum at this. She threw 
into the river the seven Astavasus, who were born to her in 
succession. When she was about to throw the last eighth of the 
Astavasus (Dyau) into the river Santanu prevented her. She got angry 
at this and disappeared with the child. (Adi Parva, Chapter 98)

9) Santanu got back the son. Thirty two years after, Santanu went 
hunting again on the banks of the Ganges where he saw the river 
obstructed in its course with arrows by a handsome boy. Santanu did 
not recognise that the boy was his son, who had been named Devavrata 
by Ganges. Devavrata disappeared after throwing Santanu into an 
illusion by his magic power. All of a sudden a doubt dawned in his 
mind whether the boy was his own son, and he called out to Ganges to 
show him the boy. Ganges appeared with her son with beautiful 
ornaments on him and spoke to Santanu thus: "This is Devavrata, the 
eighth son whom you entrusted to me. He has mastered everything in 
archery from Vasistha, and he is Dyau (the vasu), son of Angiras, 
reborn. You may please take charge of him." After saying this she 
returned to heaven. (Adi Parva, Chapter 100)

10) Ganges and Subrahmanya. (See under Subrahmanya)

11) Ganga and Bhisma. (See under Bhisma)

12) Greatness (divine nature) of Ganges. Mahabharata has (Anusasana 
Parva, Chapter 26,), the following on the greatness of Ganga. If, 
after death, the bones of the dead are deposited in Ganges the 
departed will attain heaven. Even if one had sinned throughout his 
life he would attain Visnupada (heaven) if he worshipped Ganges. 
Bathing in the Ganga is as beneficial as performing hundred yajnas. As 
long as the bones of one remain in the waters of the Ganga so long 
will he occupy an honourable seat in heaven. He who has come in 
contact with its water will shine forth as the sun devoid of all 
darkness. Places which are not favoured by its waters will become 
barren like night without the moon and trees without flowers. Ganga 
water is more than enough to satisfy living things in all the three 
worlds. He who does penance standing on one leg for thousand years, 
and he who gives up his body in the waters of the Ganges are on a par 
with each other. God attaches more importance to him who has fal len 
into the Ganges than to him, who has performed tapas hanging by his 
head for a thousand years. He who smears the sand on the banks of the 
Ganga on his body will get the lustre and glow of the devas, and he, 
who smears the sand on his head will shine forth like the Sun. All the 
sins of those on whom has blown the air which had come in contact with 
Ganges water will be-swept away. It should be known that Ganges water 
can wash off all sins and purify mortals. The Agni Purana (Chapter 
110) has the following on this subject.

Through whatever places the Ganges flows those places become sublime 
and sacred. Ganges is the refuge of all created beings who aspire for 
the final good. If Ganges is worshipped daily it will save families 
both on the mother's and the father's side from evil fate. To drink 
Ganges water is better than the observance of a thousand lunar months. 
If one worships Ganges for a month one will derive all the benefits of 
having performed all the yajnas. Even the blind (the ignorant) who 
worship Ganges will attain equal status with the devas. The sight of 
Ganges, contact with its waters and drinking Ganges water will purify 
people in thousands and lakhs.

13) Ganga and Radha. Ganges is Radha and Krsna liquefied into water. 
Once in Goloka Radhadevi attempted to drink Ganges dry, who, 
terror-stricken, hid herself at the feet of Sri Krsna, and the whole 
world experienced difficulties due to non-availability of water. Sri 
Krsna came to know of the situation and made Ganga appear again on 
earth. (Devibhagavata, Navama Skandha)

14) Symbols and vehicle of Ganga. Ganges, white in colour rests on 
makaramatsya (a variety of fish) holding in her hands a pot and lotus 
flowers. (Agni Purana, Chapter 50)

15) Synonyms of Ganga used in the Mahabharata. Akasaganga, 
Bhagirathasuta, Bhagirathi, Sailarajasuta, Saivasuta, Devanadi, 
Haimavati, Jahnavi, Jahnukanya, Samudramahisi, Tripathaga, 
Tripathagamini.

16) Synonyms of Ganges.

Ganges Visnupadi Jahnutanaya Suranimnaga / Bhagirathi Tripathaga 
Trisrota Bhismasurapi. (Amarakosa)